Don’t Pick Up The Trash Once Thrown Away - Chapter 157

New Year’s Day was just three days away.

 

I was reviewing the New Year’s Day schedule again and checking to see if there were any problems when the servants came to me with a large box.

 

“Baron Aster, His Majesty has sent you this.”

 

It seemed to be the reward he mentioned before.

 

But why are there so many boxes? It looks like more than twenty boxes. Even if he sends me accessories to match the dress, there are still too many.

 

As I was staring at it, confused, the servant asked.

 

“Shall we put these in the carriage?”

 

“Ah, yeah. Please do that.”

 

I’ll open it when I get home. 

 

“By the way, are these all the gifts from His Majesty to me?”

 

“Yes, that’s right.”

 

“Really?”

 

I asked if there was a mistake, but the servant said no firmly.

 

What did he send so many?

 

I was very curious. So, as soon as I got home from work, I checked the boxes without changing my clothes.

 

“Oh my God, His Majesty gave you all of this?”

 

Sarah’s eyes twinkled as she looked at the boxes. On the other hand, Ness looked at the boxes as if doubtful.

 

“I think it’s too much to simply repay you for choosing clothes though.”

 

I agreed with Ness in silence, then opened the nearest box.

 

There were shoes in the box. The pearl embedded on the toe of the white flat shoes reflected the light and sparkled.

 

“Wow, what pretty shoes.”

 

The shoes were so pretty that even Ness, who was doubtful, burst out in admiration.

 

“It’s really pretty! How can pretty shoes like this exist?”

 

Of course, Sarah liked it and made a fuss.

 

I then opened a box of the same size. It was shoes again this time.

 

I guess all boxes of this size are shoes. Then I’ll open the other boxes.

 

I opened the larger box. There was a hat in it. And, of course, the largest box contained dresses. Four dresses were in it.

 

Why did he send me this many?

 

He said he would send me a dress to wear on New Year’s Day, didn’t he?

 

…come to think of it, he didn’t say only one. And come to think of it, I need to wear non-uniforms exactly 4 times during New Year’s Day. 

 

He sends me all, huh? 

 

Not only dresses, but also accessories such as shawls, hats, and shoes to match. There were also plenty of accessories, such as necklaces and rings.

 

“This is really a lot. When are we going to organize it all?”

 

Contrary to her grumbling, Sarah was smiling. Before I knew it, even Ness looked at the gifts with a happy smile.

 

“His Majesty seems to be very fond of the Baron.”

 

“He’s not only fond. It’s a little more profound.”

 

“As expected, is it that?”

 

“Of course, it is that.”

 

“Don’t talk nonsense.”

 

I stood up after telling Sarah and Ness off, who was talking nonsense.

 

“Close all the boxes and put them back in the carriage.”

 

“Yes? You’re not going to organize this in the dressing room?”

 

“I got too much.”

 

So I was going to give it back to Kalian.

 

*****

 

“No way.”

 

But Kalian flatly refused.

 

“I’m not going to accept the gift I already gave you. If you don’t want it, just throw it away.”

 

There’s no way I would dare to throw away the things the emperor gave me, okay? 

 

He probably wouldn’t know this, but it was so annoying hearing him say that, so I glared at him.

 

“What?”

 

Then Kalian asked with a smile.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

“Nothing? You’re cursing me with your eyes though.”

 

…I got caught. 

 

“It’s my first time getting cursed after giving a gift.”

 

“…I apologize.”

 

“If you know, wear them all on New Year’s Day. Or I’ll think you’re ignoring me. Just know that.”

 

It was an absurd coercion, but I could only say yes.

 

“Then, you can go out now.”

 

I left Kalian’s office and returned to the aide’s office.

 

I was going to put aside the burden of excessive gifts for a while and concentrate on my work, but a servant came to me.

 

“Baron Aster. There is someone who wants to meet you.”

 

“Me? Who?”

 

“It is Diane Andrian.”

 

If it’s Diane Andrian…! 

 

My body moved faster than my mind. I jumped up from my seat and went straight out.

 

As soon as I left the inner palace, I saw a familiar silhouette in the distance.

 

“Diane!”

 

“Leila!”

 

It was Diane.

 

I rushed over, forgetting my dignity, and grabbed Diane’s hands.

 

Diane then let out a distinctive clear laugh and held my hands.

 

“I can’t believe you’re welcoming me like this. I’m so happy, you know?”

 

“Of course, I have to welcome you!”

 

Because you’re one of my few friends.

 

“How did you come here?”

 

“How did I come here? Of course, I came as an envoy. I came because I missed Leila, but did I come for no reason?”

 

“No way. Welcome, Diane.”

 

I wanted to talk to Diane a little more, but unfortunately, there was a lot of work to be done. That’s why, even though I knew I had to return, I couldn’t let go of my disappointment easily.

 

Diane smiled and patted my shoulder as if she knew how I felt.

 

“Go ahead. We can talk again later.”

 

“Can I?”

 

“Of course. You still have to keep your promise to show me around the capital, right?”

 

Yeah, I made that promise.

 

“I will definitely show you around.”

 

“Oh, you promised me again. At this point, you know you have to keep it, right?”

 

“Of course, I’ll keep it. So looking forward to it, Diane.”

 

*****

 

It was late afternoon, a day before the start of New Year’s Day, the envoy of the Holy Kingdom arrived.

 

The other envoy had arrived three days ago, but they’re just showing up now.

 

“Whether they have the guts, or they’re brazen?”

 

Kalian twisted his lips and made sarcastic remarks.

 

I handed Kalian his coat without saying a word.

 

“Where are they?”

 

Kalian asked Baron Delrond while putting on his coat.

 

“We have guided them to Rune Palace.”

 

“How many envoys are there?”

 

“Excluding the escort knights, there are seven envoys.”

 

“There are more than I thought. Did the royal family come in person?”

 

Usually, it was standard for the envoy to consist of 4 or 5 people.

 

If the royal family came in person like Princess Stella, a few more would come because they needed nobles to serve the royal family.

 

“I haven’t checked that far, but should I check?”

 

“No, no need. I’ll go see for myself anyway.”

 

Kalian, wearing a coat, left the office. Me, Baron Delrond, and numerous attendants, also escort knights followed.

 

In front of Rune Palace, a carriage, presumed to have come from the Holy Kingdom, was there. The servants were moving the luggage diligently, and knights in pure white armor were guarding the surrounding area.

 

“The Holy Knights of the Holy Kingdom.”

 

Baron Delrond, who walked side by side with me, told me in a low voice.

 

“Like a priest, they can also use divine power.”

 

The knights also can use divine power? Amazing.

 

“They must be very strong.”

 

“They’re definitely strong, but they’re just as annoying.”

 

Annoying?

 

“In what sense do you mean they’re annoying?”

 

“Umm, how do I explain this…”

 

Baron Delrond pondered for a moment and then shook his head.

 

“If it were anyone else, I would have told them to experience it themselves, but I can’t say that to the Baron.”

 

“It doesn’t matter if I experience it myself.”

 

“No, please don’t get involved with them. My blood boils when I think of them being rude to the Baron.”

 

Why on earth is he reacting like that? I’m curious.

 

“Don’t even be curious.”

 

Baron Delrond, who read my mind like a ghost, said sternly.

 

“Promise me that you’ll never ever get involved with them.”

 

“I understand.”

 

I couldn’t say no to such a request, so I had no choice but to say I would do it.

 

While talking with Baron Delrond, we arrived at the Rune Palace. The envoy of the Holy Kingdom was waiting for us in the garden of Rune Palace.

 

Perhaps because it was a holy country, all the envoys wore pure white robes. The sunlight pouring down over the white waves was dazzling.

 

Kalian, who was walking towards them, stopped.

 

I also stopped at once and looked at Kalian.

 

“Your Majesty?”

 

Baron Delrond called him in wonder, but Kalian didn’t answer. He just looked at the envoy of the Holy Kingdom with a scary face.

 

“…it’s surprising.”

 

Then he said with a smirk.

 

“I didn’t expect you to come in person.”

 

Among the envoys, the shortest figure took off his hood.

 

Silver hair fell gently over his shoulders. His eyes, lighter in pigment than his hair, were very mysterious.

 

The opponent was a very young-looking boy who didn’t seem to have had a coming-of-age ceremony yet. And so, he was the youngest envoy I had ever seen.

 

“I didn’t really want to come either, but I had to this time because the people around me were so noisy.”

 

His voice was as fresh as dew on the wall. Should I say my heart was purified just by listening to it?

 

“That’s why I had no choice but to come. If I don’t come, it seems like the world will collapse, and I can’t stand it.”

 

“Your Holiness, what are you talking about…”

 

The man next to the boy was perplexed and stopped him.

 

By the way, Your Holiness?

 

Doesn’t that mean that boy is the King and Pope of the Holy Kingdom? 

 

He seems too young to be one though. Because it has been 20 years since the current Pope and King of the Holy Kingdom ascended to the throne.

 

It didn’t make sense when I saw the boy, but there was no way that man would call anyone who was not a king Your Holiness. Kalian’s attitude was also unusual.

 

“…is that boy really the King and Pope of the Holy Kingdom?”

 

I asked Baron Delrond with a small voice to confirm the fact.

 

“I don’t know either. It’s my first time seeing the Pope in person.”

 

Baron Delrond replied quietly, also bewildered.

 

“So, why did the Pope personally come to the Empire?”

 

‘I guess he’s really the Pope.’

 

‘I know, right?’

 

Baron Delrond and I spoke with our eyes.

 

I was already surprised that the Holy Kingdom sent an envoy to attend the New Year’s Day, but the Pope himself coming?

 

It was pretty unusual. Because the Pope rarely came directly to participate in simple events.

 

“The reason is simple.”

 

I thought the Holy Kingdom came because of the corruption committed by the temples in the Empire.

 

“I came to ask Your Majesty the Emperor of the Cardin Empire for a hand in marriage.”

 

Turned out it wasn’t.